About the School
The School of Agriculture is one of the first Schools established at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, with a 99-year history, 61 academic and research staff members, 24 auxiliary teaching, technical and administrative staff, approximately 1,500 active students, and over 14,500 graduate agronomists, 1,800+ postgraduate degree holders and 550+ doctoral graduates.
The mission of Agriculture as a discipline is the development and improvement of all stages of the agri-food chain, from the production of raw materials through to the processing and distribution of safe, high-quality food. As a bridge between the natural, biological, technological and socioeconomic sciences, Agriculture spans a wide range of scientific fields requiring an interdisciplinary approach. The complexity of issues relating to sustainable production, environmental protection, animal and plant health, and food security makes it essential to acquire both specialised and foundational knowledge, as well as the capacity to synthesise and apply it.
These educational objectives are achieved at the AUTH School of Agriculture thanks to the high academic calibre of its staff, its modern facilities and rich research activity, and the presence of one of the largest and most historic educational farms among all agricultural schools and faculties worldwide.
Through its extensive educational and research activity, the School of Agriculture has made a significant contribution to the national economy, rural development and the development of the Greek countryside. It also has a long and distinguished international presence in the agricultural sciences and technologies.
The School is located on the University Campus, though a large part of its research and educational activity takes place at the University Farm near the Airport.
We hope that our website will be useful both to our students and to other visitors wishing to learn more about our School.
Kotsopoulos Thomas Professor, Head of the School of Agriculture
History
The School of Agriculture was established by the Legislative Decree of 7 October 1927 “On the annexation of the Higher Schools of Forestry and Agriculture to the University of Thessaloniki” (Government Gazette A 215/1927), as a department of the Faculty of Natural and Mathematical Sciences. From the founding of the University of Thessaloniki under Law 3341/1925, provision had been made for the operation of a department within the Faculty of Natural and Mathematical Sciences that would award a degree in Agricultural Sciences. The commencement of operation of the Faculty and each of its departments, in accordance with Article 19 of Law 3341/1925, required the issuance of a decree following a decision of the Council of Ministers.
The founding decree designated the following as regular chairs of the School of Agriculture:
- Agricultural Zoology and Entomology (including Sericulture and Beekeeping)
- Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals (including animal hygiene and elements of veterinary science)
- Agricultural Engineering
- Plant Pathology
- Agricultural Hydraulics and Construction
- Agriculture (general and specialised) and agricultural encyclopaedia
- Animal Husbandry (general and specialised)
- Agricultural Economics
- Agricultural Technology (winemaking, fermentation technology, distillery, dairy science, olive oil production, etc.)
- Viticulture
- Pomology, Olive Cultivation, Horticulture and Floriculture
- Mathematics and Mechanics
- Surveying, Road Construction and Forest Transport
- Political Economy
- Public Economy and Statistics
- Elements of Law
The following were designated as extraordinary chairs:
- Accounting
- Hygiene
- Rural Settlement Planning and Architecture
From its very inception, the School of Agriculture was distinguished by a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach, covering every aspect of the agri-food chain and responding to the needs of the primary sector, agricultural processing and food production. Its academic scope included, among other subjects, the Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals with elements of hygiene and veterinary science, as well as general and specialised Animal Husbandry. In the field of plant production, the curriculum encompassed Agricultural Zoology and Entomology, Agriculture (general and specialised), Plant Pathology, Viticulture, Pomology, Olive Cultivation, Horticulture and Floriculture. Agricultural Technology covered the processing and utilisation of agricultural products, including winemaking, fermentation, distillery, dairy science and olive oil production. Technological support was provided through Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Hydraulics and Construction, Surveying, Road Construction and Forest Transport, as well as Mathematics and Mechanics.
The curriculum also incorporated subjects reinforcing the administrative and economic dimensions of agricultural science, including Agricultural Economics, Political and Public Economy, Statistics, Elements of Law and Accounting. Knowledge of Hygiene, Rural Settlement Planning and Architecture further rounded out graduates’ education, equipping them to meet the multifaceted demands of the agri-food sector. Through this broad range of disciplines, the School of Agriculture developed and advanced the synthesis of sciences related to production, technology, economics, environmental protection and quality of life in rural areas — demonstrating its interdisciplinary character in practice.
Key Milestones
1936: The transfer of the Farm from the State to the University of Thessaloniki was formalised by the Compulsory Law of 15 January 1936 “On the ratification of the transfer of a farm to the University of Thessaloniki and the establishment of a fund for its administration and management” (Government Gazette A 52/1936). Under this legislation, the farm located near the Airport was transferred to the University with full ownership and title, for the exclusive purpose of meeting the educational and research needs of the School of Agriculture. Since then, the Farm has served as the School’s fundamental physical space, providing systematic and continuous support for the development of the educational process and the advancement of scientific research across the full breadth of agricultural science.
1937: Under Compulsory Law 835 of 17 September 1937 “On the amendment and supplementation of Law 3341 on the establishment of a University in Thessaloniki”, an independent Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry was established, awarding degrees in both Agriculture and Forestry, with the duration of studies extended to five years. At the same time, the dissolved Athens Higher Agricultural School was incorporated into the new Faculty, making it the only institution providing agricultural education in Greece until the re-establishment of the Athens Higher Agricultural School in 1943.
1981: The two departments of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry were separated, and the School of Agriculture began operating as an independent faculty under the name Agricultural Faculty (Presidential Decree 296/1981). In 1983, under Law 1268/1982, the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences was formed, within which the School of Agriculture was incorporated.
2004: The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences was dissolved (Presidential Decree 247/2004), and by decision of the Senate, in 2005 the School of Agriculture became independent once again, re-established as an Agricultural Faculty with the School of Agriculture as its sole department.
In 2013, the Faculties of Agriculture and of Forestry and Natural Environment were merged to form the new Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment, comprising two schools: the School of Agriculture and the School of Forestry and Natural Environment (Presidential Decree 98/5-6-2013).
The academic disciplines cultivated by the School of Agriculture since its founding have gradually expanded to cover virtually all fields of agricultural science, supporting both education and research across the full spectrum of the discipline.
Landmarks and Achievements
Emeritus Professor of the AUTH School of Agriculture Konstantinos G. Biliaderis was ranked 1st in Greece in the field of Chemistry according to the 2026 edition of the international “Best Scientists in Chemistry” ranking by Research.com, receiving the “2026 Research.com Chemistry in Greece Leader Award”.
AUTH Excellence Award for the attraction of research programmes, awarded in memory of the late Professor of the School of Agriculture, Konstantinos Koutsoumánis.
A doctoral candidate of the School of Agriculture received the Best Poster Award at the international conference #IAPV25.
1st Prize at the national Ecotrophelia 2025 competition — the first ever won by an AUTH team — awarded to a team of students from the School of Agriculture. The team will subsequently represent Greece at the European Ecotrophelia Europe competition in Germany. A doctoral candidate of the School of Agriculture was also recognised at the international conference on plant virus epidemiology (ISPVE2025, São Paulo, Brazil).
Three start-ups founded by graduates of the School of Agriculture were recognised at the “Entrepreneurship & AUTH” awards, June 2025.
The AUTH School of Agriculture ranks 1st in Greece among all Greek universities in Agricultural Sciences in the NTU Rankings (2024) and is among the top 150 globally — ranked 135th worldwide.
The AUTH School of Agriculture achieved a significant international distinction in the U.S. News Best Global Universities 2025–2026 rankings, placing 170th worldwide in Agricultural Sciences.
The AUTH School of Agriculture achieved a further international distinction in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, ranking 151–200 worldwide and 58th among European universities in Agriculture & Forestry.
8 scientists from the AUTH School of Agriculture are in the top 2% of global rankings.
2nd School at AUTH in attracting funding from competitive research programmes.